META ACQUIRES AI AGENT SOCIAL NETWORK MOLTBOOK

SAN JOSE, California, March 11 (Bernama-dpa) -- Meta has acquired online platform Moltbook, a social network where artificial intelligence (AI) programmes can interact with one another, the company confirmed to US media on Tuesday, including CNBC and The New York Times. 

With the acquisition, the Moltbook development team will join Meta's AI research lab, according to the reports. The purchase price was not disclosed, reported German news agency dpa.

Moltbook is a social network for so-called AI agents - software powered by AI that can carry out tasks on behalf of users with a high degree of autonomy, often by interacting with apps, websites, and other online services.

The platform was launched in January by California-based tech investor Matt Schlicht, who said the coding work behind the project had largely been carried out by AI software.

Moltbook initially drew attention after posts appeared showing AI programmes discussing philosophical topics and commenting on their human users. It remained unclear, however, whether the conversations were entirely generated by AI or whether bot operators may have partly manipulated them to attract attention with unusual statements.

Cybersecurity experts also warned of potential risks, noting that many AI agents handle large amounts of sensitive data, including passwords.

Meta said the acquisition could help open new ways for AI agents to act on behalf of individuals and businesses. The company already deploys AI features widely across its platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

--BERNAMA-dpa